Choosing the Right Translator and How to Work with Them

Choosing the Right Translator and How to Work with Them

Choosing the right translator is fundamental to thriving in a foreign market. This also means you need to work with your translator as a team. We really can’t stress this enough.

At the beginning of their writing career, most authors struggle to find the right editors and proofreaders. They’ll go through countless samples, stress about trusting their manuscripts to an editor, and sometimes waste a lot of money only to wind up disappointed with the results. Whereas some more experienced authors still haven’t found the appropriate professionals, others managed to create the dream team — a developmental editor, a copy editor, a proofreader, a book formatter, and a cover artist. And after all they’ve been through to find them, one thing’s for sure — they’re never, ever letting them go.

We’re not going to sugar‍-‍coat it — finding the right translator for you can occasionally prove harder and more frustrating than finding the right editor. Because you probably don’t speak the language and have no way of personally assessing their skills. And this can quickly turn into a downer. But you shouldn’t get discouraged just yet!

Many authors have achieved great success in foreign markets. One of them? Kate Bateman, an international best-selling author of historical romance novels, translated into German, Portuguese, Italian, and French. Read this interview where Kate shares her tips with fellow authors.

Another one? Mariah Stone, an international best-selling author of historical romance and time-travel romance, translated into German, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Where to find professional literary translators?

Even though finding a skilled and qualified literary translator can seem like a tremendous hurdle, we can assure you it is far from finding a needle in a haystack. And we are here to help. There are several pages where you can find professional translators in any language with proven experience and credentials:

● linkedin.com/

● translatorscafe.com/

● proz.com/

● Google — most specialised professional translators have their website!

● Amazon — find translated books in your genre and research the translator. Are the titles getting good reviews? Would it be possible to drop a line to the author asking for a reference? Does the translator have a website or contact information so you can get in touch

● Recommendations from other authors

● Check on translators’ associations — they tend to have a section in which they have a database with all of its members or a form you can complete to be contacted by a translator that suits your needs

Some things to be aware of:

Of course, there are multiple websites where freelancers offer their services, too. Bear in mind that if you use these services, the website takes a share of the fee. Moreover, you want to be extra careful because many bilingual speakers with no formal training or experience tend to offer their services on these platforms. The issue lies in the fact that the customer reviews for their services might not consider things like the actual work quality, but focus on the interaction and communication with the linguist and their ability to meet deadlines. Generally speaking, qualified linguists tend to avoid these platforms, but if they do list their services there, they are among the most expensive providers.

At this point, we’d like to stress that we’d stay clear from royalty‍-‍share platforms if you expect to generate income with your translations, keep control of your translations, and avoid many further headaches born from misinformation. Remember that professional, qualified, and in‍-‍demand literary translators will rarely be found on job‍-‍posting websites or royalty‍-‍share platforms looking for projects that are little more than unpaid volunteer work. You want to work with a language professional, a linguist, with the work ethic to handle the task and deliver a quality product in due time and manner.

How do I know if I found the right translator for my books?

Let’s say you did your research and you found a potential translator for your novels. As that other old saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” And before teaming up with your translator, you need to find out if you’re a good fit. If finding the right editors proved challenging for you, then you know what we’re on about.

But what to do when you do not know the target language? Luckily, there is plenty! And most of it is free!

● Ask in author groups and forums. Chances are, you’ll encounter a bilingual speaker who’ll be able to assist you — for instance, by reading a sample and making comments on the work. Proceed with caution, though. If you do this, make sure only to ask native speakers of the language you’ll be translating your books into.

● Consult your subscriber list! You probably have native speakers in the target language you’re considering translating into, and they’ll be thrilled to assist you!

● Join reader forums and ask for help from native speakers.

● Hire a professional editor to assess the quality of a sample — whether it’s 300 words or an entire chapter of your manuscript, we think this expense could be worth it.

But are they really the right translator?

Before asking your community of helpers, you need to determine if your selected translator is the right linguist for your titles. Here’s a list of things you can try:

● Have them read a sample chapter of your book and ask them about their thoughts — this will give you great insight into the person you’re hiring. Are they mentioning things such as tone, mood, setting, character’s voice, or possible translation challenges? A professional translator reads books with a trained eye to spot these kinds of things.

● Check their previously translated titles and go over the readers’ reviews. Isn’t that the ultimate best way to assess your translator’s skills? In the past, Carolina used to show samples of her work to authors looking to hire her services, but nowadays, she points them to her Author Central Translator profile. There they can have a look at her portfolio and assess her work based on reviews of hundreds of native‍-‍speaking readers.

● Choose a translator to match your genre (and niche, if possible). No doubt, a translator who understands the market and the audience you’re writing for will have experience with the conventions of your genre and will do a better job communicating your message.

● Request translation samples. Professional translators usually provide free samples of up to 300 words. If you can afford it, we strongly advise you to consider asking for a paid sample of the first chapter of your novel. Get your beta readers’ input before deciding.

● Ask them questions about their translation process. Do they work with proofeditors or proofreaders? If so, what are their credentials?

● Set up video calls. Don’t be shy! No matter the target language, a good translator will have questions for you after the first reading of your manuscript. Set up a call to go over all these questions and make decisions together. Discuss possible titles. Don’t forget to brainstorm important keywords that could be worked into the titles and blurbs. Research what other authors in your genre are releasing in the foreign market you’re about to enter. There is no denying that some authors don’t like to be so involved with the translation process (especially if they don’t speak the target language). Others simply don’t have so much time for this and prefer to leave all these decisions in the capable hands of their trusted translators.

Beta readers? Why not!

● Ask your newsletter list whether there are any native speakers in your target language. Get your fans involved! Have them beta‍-‍read the first chapters or the entire manuscript and provide feedback. As translators, we love this part of the process. Keep in mind that the more people you ask to beta read and the longer material you provide them with, the more you’ll postpone your launching date. We think this is truly a worthy price to pay if you don’t speak the target language. Rest assured, the translation you’re paying for is on the right track.

● Working with beta readers, though, can prove challenging at times, and it’s important to remember that they’re your target readers, but they’re not typically professional linguists. Leave all major language decisions in the hands of linguists.

To learn more about how to work with beta-readers for Book Translations, don’t miss this article: Pros and Cons of Working with Beta Readers for Translated Books

Conclusion

Finding the right translator for your book will return a good translation and, as a direct consequence, build a path into a new market with new readers. However, finding or getting the wrong one, or even worse, a bad one, can damage your author brand and reputation. It might take some time, but it is worth being patient to get a good one: Translators sometimes are booked in advance or might be dealing with another project. Just because you found your translator, it does not mean that they will be immediately available; make sure to set some realistic deadlines and plan in advance.

Whatever you do, be fair to your translator and respect them for the professional they are.

Read our success story translating Mariah’s Stone time-travel romance series into Spanish here.

Disclosure:

This article is an edited extract from our Free ebook “Translating Your Books into Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide to the Spanish Market: Everything You Need to Know to Reach an Untapped Audience.”

If you would like to learn more, grab your copy at your favourite online vendor:

https://books2read.com/translating-your-books-into-spanish

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Choosing the Right Translator and How to Work with Them Read More »

Interview with Best-selling Author Kate Bateman

Leave a Comment / Success Story, Writer's Life / SBT / 20/01/2025

Interview with Historical Romance Best-selling Author Kate Bateman

Today we open a cycle of interviews, where we will be asking our guests all the things indies want to know regarding the world of literary translations and maybe haven’t got a chance to ask. Our first guest is Kate Bateman, a best-selling author of Regency and Renaissance historical romance novels. Kate has had her books translated both via her traditional publishers into languages such as French, Italian, Croatian, and Japanese, and she has also outsourced some of her foreign editions, such as Brazilian and German.

Hello, Kate, and welcome to Spanish Book Translations. We are thrilled to have you as our first author guest on our blog.

As you may know, a lot of authors out there are considering having their books translated into different languages; but whether it is for budgetary reasons, fear of being scammed, language barriers, etc., not many dare to do it. Today, we would like to ask you some questions regarding your translations in the hopes of shedding some light on the topic from an author’s perspective, rather than a translator’s.

Before we get started…

Would you like to introduce yourself and briefly tell us a bit about your career, how you got started, and how your author brand developed over the years?

Kate Bateman: Hello and thanks for having me! I write ‘badasses in bodices’: sexy, snarky, adventure-filled Historical Romances. My books feature feisty, intelligent heroines, wickedly inappropriate banter, and heroes you want to strangle and kiss!

Writing Historical Romance is, in fact, a second career for me. I spent 15 years in the UK as a Fine Art and antiques appraiser, running my own auction house, Batemans. It was only when I moved from the UK to the USA in 2011, with my husband’s work, that I started to write romance full-time. Since I was a huge lover of reading historical romance, that was what I wanted to write as well—especially since my background in antiques gave me a great grounding in the period. I also have a degree in English (Literature), so I was hopeful that I could string a sentence together. . .

For my publishing journey, I was extremely lucky. My first book, an Italian-Renaissance set tale called The Devil To Pay was entered into a writing contest and resulted in an editor from Random House (who was a judge of the contest) asking for the full manuscript. She loved the book, but since Regency-set stories were much easier to sell at that time, she asked if I would write a Regency. I pitched a three-book Regency series, (my Secrets & Spies series), and was thrilled when it was accepted for publication. Those first three books were actually digital-first (meaning they never ended up getting a physical print run, since that line was eventually discontinued). I wanted to be traditionally published in print, so I had my agent pitch my next books to other publishers, and we sold my next three-book series to MacMillan / St. Martin’s Press. I’ve been with them ever since, for nine further books, (Bow Street Bachelors series, Ruthless Rivals Series, and Her Majesty’s Rebels series). Road Trip With A Rogue will be coming out in July 2025!

Coincidentally, I self-published The Devil To Pay a few years after it had been rejected – and it was nominated for the 2019 RITA award, which made me very happy! I’ve also self-published several spin-off novellas from my trad-published series, as well as some for anthologies and other collaborations. So, technically, I’m a hybrid writer right now; traditionally published and also doing indie projects.

Were your first translated titles handled by your traditional publishers? How much say did you have in the decision-making process? How long did the process take, and how was the experience?

KB: Yes, Random House and then St. Martin’s Press both sold the foreign rights to my books to various countries, (through a third-party foreign rights agency). I think my first foreign translations were the Secrets & Spies series in French, with J’ai Lu.

Interview with Historical Romance Best-selling Author Kate Bateman Rivalités (Tome 1) - Secrets & Spies (Book 1) translated into French by Agnès Girard

Interview with Historical Romance Best-selling Author Kate Bateman Rivalités (Tome 2) - Secrets & Spies (Book 2) translated into French by Astrid Mougins

Interview with Historical Romance Best-selling Author Kate Bateman Rivalités (Tome 3) - Secrets & Spies (Book 3) translated into French by Astrid Mougins

For the trad-organized translations I really have no input at all. The translator and covers etc. are all chosen and designed by whichever publisher has bought your books. I love seeing the different covers each country makes. They’re all quite different, but also capture the book in their own way. Styles for covers change quite a bit depending on the country.

I’m in awe of translators. It’s such an art to take someone else’s words and accurately convey them into another language. Sometimes a literal translation is impossible—perhaps because the words for a particular thing or concept don’t really exist in the target language—and a good translator will have to be creative in conveying the sense and tone of the original without losing the style of the author or substantially changing the meaning of the work.

It’s interesting for me to read the French translations of my own books, because I studied French at university level too, and I often find that the way something’s been translated is quite different to what I’d originally written, but the essence and meaning of the sentence are still there, so it’s a successful translation, if not a word-for-word substitution. An author puts a LOT of trust into their translator, entrusting them to convey their original message as well as possible, and the translator of a work completely deserves to be credited for their hard work.

Another thing that is sometimes hard to translate is humour, especially when it’s play on words or puns. Something like that might work in one language, but not necessarily in the target language – the joke would make no sense – so it’s up to the author and translator to have a discussion about how best to deal with that situation. Do you leave out the joke completely? Try to find a similar substitute in the target language? It’s a fun part of the collaboration for me.

In terms of timing, translations can be very slow with traditionally published books: it’s often many months, sometimes even a year, from when I sign a foreign-rights translation contract to when the translated book actually hits the shelves.

How did you decide to outsource the foreign editions of your indie titles and release them in other markets, such as Germany and Brazil? What was the experience like? How long did this process take?

KB: For Germany, I’d heard from other indie authors that it was a good market for Historical Romance translations, so I decided to employ someone to translate the three books in my Secrets & Spies series (after I’d got the rights back from Random House).

I chose to pay outright for the translation, instead of doing a royalty-share of future profits with the translator. Obviously when the cost of the translations needs to be paid up front, or in stages, prior to publication, that can get very expensive. It’s definitely a big investment, one that you hope will pay off when the book gets published, but it can take time to earn back that initial investment!

For my Brazilian translations, I was contacted by Leabhar, a relatively new publisher in Brazil, and offered them the rights to translate my indie books. I negotiated the deal and contracts myself, and agreed to no advance, but a royalty split, (Leabhar pay for the cost of the covers and translations). This suited me, since each translation costs several thousand dollars, so the onus and risk are on the publisher’s part to market the books so they get the cost of the translation back, at the very least! When those initial translations went well, and the sales were good, they contacted St. Martin’s Press and actually ended up buying the rights to all of my traditionally published books as well, which was a great result.

How many indie books did you release in each foreign language? How do the sales of those books compare to the titles published traditionally?

KB: So far, I’ve only released three full-length books in German, but I plan to do several more this year! I’ve also had The Devil To Pay translated into Italian (since it’s set in Italy), which I did to coincide with the RARE book signing I attended in Florence, Italy in 2023.

For Brazilian, I think about six of my books and novellas have already been published there, with maybe another six or eight to come, so that’s early days in terms of sales figures. The first few books are already paying me royalties, though, which means they’ve earned-out their translation costs. Phew!

Right now, my indie-published translations haven’t sold as many copies as those translations which have been trad-published, but that’s probably because they haven’t been out for as long. Also, for countries like France, and Italy, the physical print copies are available in some of the big bookstores, like FNAC, and in supermarkets like Conad, which helps visibility and sales, whereas my own translations aren’t in physical stores (although print copies are available for readers to buy online.) Most of my indie-translation sales are from e-books, not print.

How did you find the right professionals to handle your foreign editions? How did you prove their skill set and experience? Did you always work with the same linguist team in each language? Would you do things differently if given the chance?

KB: I found my German translator, Dorthe, on Upwork, after posting the job description, but I got at least ten sample translations of the first few chapters from various people before choosing her. I had several German beta-readers review the sample chapters to help me decide which translation was the best.

I believe Dorthe took around three months to translate each book, which was the schedule we mutually agreed on. I found Stefanie, my German proofreader on Upwork too, and she took another few weeks to proof each book. For my German covers, I used an Italy-based cover designer I’d worked with before, Cora Graphics. The cover designs also take a few months to perfect.

For my Italian translation, I initially posted the job on Tektime, and received several sample chapters from potential translators, but I wasn’t completely happy with any of them. I finally contacted an Italian translator who had been recommended to me by some fellow indie authors, and we agreed his fee and a schedule for translation. Carmelo took around six to eight weeks to translate the book. My Italian proofreader, Maria Antonietta, was recommended by Carmelo, who’d worked with her before successfully. She took around a month to finish the proofing.

What were your main concerns when hiring a translator and an editor, and how did you handle them? What advice would you have for indies dealing with the same fears?

KB: I’d always suggest asking other authors who have worked with the translator if they’ve been happy with their services. Recommendations from people you know are always valuable.

Obviously, there’s a skill needed to translate historical novels set in the past, with different words and language needed, compared to very modern language. So I want to know if the translator can deal with that. Nobody wants very modern words in a Regency-set novel! So check to see if the translator has already dealt with other books in your particular sub-genre.

It’s also useful to check other books they’ve translated and look at the reviews to see if there are any negative comments on there about the quality of the translation!

As I mentioned before, it’s important to decide upfront the schedule of when the translations will be done, and when payments will be made, so deadlines can be met. Also, discuss things like how to translate humour and jokes that might not work in one language. And ask the translator to let you know if there’s something that might be offensive or make no sense to readers in the target language, so you can change that if necessary.

How do you deal with the marketing of foreign titles? Do you have a special Newsletter to connect with foreign readers and let them know about your releases in their language?

KB: I share new releases and sales of my foreign titles in my main monthly author newsletter, but I also have a separate mailing list for readers in each country, like Germany, and send them a second, specific email just about the translation. I’m not currently running any Facebook or AMS ads to my foreign translations, but that’s on my list to start again in 2025.

I’ve also joined several Facebook groups of authors who have been translated into other languages, and we often collaborate to do sales and promotions for our readers.

Have you received any feedback on the quality of the translations? Are there any recurrent comments that keep showing up?

KB: There are always going to be comments from people who aren’t happy with the translations, or who think the language used is too modern, but overall I think the quality of my translations is very high, and reviews are almost all positive. Even with my English books, which have been through numerous rounds of professional editing, one or two stubborn typos still manage to sneak through – after all, nobody’s perfect!

What are your best-performing foreign titles, and why do you think that is?

KB: I’m not actually sure which of my translated titles are selling the best! Reporting for my traditionally published titles is VERY slow – I usually don’t see the sales figures until at least six months after the start of the accounting period, so it’s hard to say for those ones. My German translations have all earned out the cost of producing them, although it took a little longer than I’d expected, but I think that’s mainly because I only have the three books in that series available for readers, and I’m not actively promoting them right now. I’m excited to see how my Brazilian sales are increasing – that’s something I’m looking forward to in 2025.

Would you recommend fellow authors to explore the exploitation of foreign rights? Is it worth the time and investment? If so, what markets would you recommend to other writers in your genre, and why?

KB: I’d definitely say ‘do your research’. Some genres sell much better in certain countries and marketplaces than in others, and some countries have a greater readership overall. If you have a series of books, especially one that’s over three books long, then it may be worth the investment, BUT it is exactly that – an investment, just like audiobooks and other diversifications. Be prepared (and financially able) to wait until those books earn out the cost of producing them.

If you only have one or two books published, I’d say maybe wait until you have a greater body of work before looking at getting things translated – you need readers who love your work to be able to read more than just one book from you! Better to write the next few books first.

That said, I have no regrets about having my books translated, and I’m definitely looking to have more translated in the future. It’s a long-term strategy, but once they’re done, they’re out there forever, and all future sales are very welcome to subsidise your income.

Also, there are many ways to go about translations, and several new companies that have appeared catering to this trend, including royalty shares, and other models. Look at all the options and decide which works best for you.

For markets, I’d say that Germany is probably the most easily accessible and potentially profitable market right now, although I have high hopes for Brazil!

In recent times, there has been an increasing trend for AI translation. As an author who has worked with human translators and editors, what are your thoughts on this?

KB: I’m extremely wary about using AI for anything to do with a creative process, including writing, translating, narrating audiobooks, and art design. Not merely because I’m not convinced of the ethics of using a tool that has been trained using the creative endeavours of others without giving them any payment for that use (or, indeed, often without their agreement or even knowledge!), but also because I just don’t think there’s any substitute for a real, live human in these cases. There’s something quite static and soulless about things made by AI. Just look at AI-generated art; it’s derivative from a billion different sources, but it also all looks the same, somehow, and weirdly fake. (And still rife with errors like six-fingered people!)

I personally will continue to deal with human translators and artists because I value the quality of their work. Humans have the ability to understand nuance, style, subtlety, context, and humour in a way that AI cannot. Plus, I enjoy the collaborative process of dealing with a human translator.

What is next in your writing journey? Are you considering translating into new languages? If so, which ones have crossed your mind, and why?

KB: I’m about to start a brand new 3-book series for 2025, so that will take up most of my time, but I’m also going to look into possible translations. I may get more of my novellas translated into German, and also French.

Are there any final words you would like to share?

KB: Be professional. Always sign a contract with your translator, one that clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of each party. For copyrights, make sure you understand the rights for each country, since those can vary greatly. In Germany, for example, there exists the ‘Urheberrecht’ clause, whereby the translator has the right to be acknowledged as the ‘creator’ of the translation. According to German law, the translator holds the copyright of the translated work as an inalienable right. However, this doesn’t really have any practical implications, because the translator can contractually agree to transfer all of the exploitation/publishing rights to the author. This will have the same effect as transferring the copyright itself. The author will be able to do anything they please with the translation, as long as the translator’s name is stated (in the imprint, for instance). But this is something you need to have written in your contract, so it’s clear where everyone stands.

Also, consider whether you plan to publish your translation wide, or just in KU / Amazon. In some places, like Germany, KU is very strong, whereas in others it might pay to publish wide, on all the available platforms. Also, I personally went direct and published with Tolino, and other platforms in Germany, instead of going through an aggregator like D2D (Draft2Digital). It’s a bit more work, but you don’t give up an extra % of your royalties to the third party. Again, decide which route is best for you!

Thank you so much, Kate, for your time today and for sharing your experience with us and many other fellow authors out there, wondering whether it is worth it to translate their titles.

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Interview with Best-selling Author Kate Bateman Read More »

Launching Our Free Ebook

Leave a Comment / Translation World, Writer's Life / SBT / 28/11/2024

Launching Our Free Ebook

Launching our free ebook, Translating Your Books into Spanish, has been on our minds for a while, but now it is available for you to read. Without further ado, let us introduce it to you:

Unlock the gateway to a massive untapped literary market with Translating Your Books into Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide to the Spanish Market. Whether you’re a self-published author or a seasoned writer looking to expand your reach, this guide is a valuable resource to help you thrive in the Spanish-speaking market. With millions of potential readers in over 20 countries, translating your books into Spanish offers unparalleled opportunities to grow your readership and increase your earnings.

Discover the Power of the Spanish-Speaking Market

The Spanish-speaking literary market is vast yet surprisingly underexplored by English-language authors. With over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide, there’s a great demand for quality translated content. But the real question is: How can you make the most of this market and ensure your book becomes a success? This guide will show you how to navigate this exciting terrain, monetise your foreign rights, and boost your book sales.

Working with Translators and Editors: The Key to Success

Translating your book is not just about converting words from one language to another — it’s about translating cultures and adapting your story to resonate with an entirely new audience. Thus, finding the right translator is crucial to retaining the essence of your work and ensuring it resonates with Spanish-speaking readers. This comprehensive guide covers:

•How to find and vet professional literary translators who understand your book’s tone, genre, and audience.

•The importance of a sample translation or background check to ensure the translator’s style matches your author-voice.

•How to collaborate effectively with your translator and build a successful, long-lasting partnership.

•Tips to avoid common pitfalls or rookie mistakes when dealing with translation projects.

Copyrights and Intellectual Property

Navigating copyright laws when translating your book into Spanish can be tricky, especially when dealing with different countries. This guide offers a clear overview of:

•How copyright laws work in the Spanish-speaking world and how they apply to your translated work.

•What you need to know about contracts to protect your intellectual property and avoid legal complications.

Thriving in an Unsaturated Market

Many authors are unaware of how much opportunity exists within the Spanish-speaking market. In this guide, you’ll explore why the market remains relatively unsaturated despite its enormous potential. More importantly, you’ll discover how to position yourself as a leading author within this space by:

•Understanding reader preferences and trends in the Spanish-speaking literary world.

•Building relationships with Spanish-language readers, reviewers, and bloggers who can help spread the word about your book.

•Learning about how other English-speaking authors have navigated this market.

This Guide is a Must-Have for Self-published Authors

If you’re a self-published author, this guide is your roadmap to taking your career to the next level by reaching a whole new audience. With more authors choosing to self-publish than ever before, the competition in the English-speaking market is fierce. However, the Spanish-speaking world offers a fresh opportunity to stand out, connect with new readers, and boost your income.

Don’t miss some expert advice from translators with broad experience working with self-published authors and comprehensive knowledge of the self-publishing business.

This guide is also packed with practical tips you can implement immediately to start building your brand and selling more books. A comprehensive approach that covers everything from translation to promotion, ensuring you leave no stone unturned in your quest for success.

Ready to expand your horizons and grow your readership? Start your journey to becoming a translated author today!

Would you like to read it?

We invite you to check our free ebook and start your translation project with a head-start!

Get the ebook

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Launching Our Free Ebook Read More »

7 Reasons Why Literary Translators Should Receive Royalties

Leave a Comment / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 22/11/2024

7 Reasons Why Literary Translators Should Receive Royalties

Not so long ago, we analysed literary translators’ fees and what is behind them. Today, we would like to discuss a rather controversial topic: Why are authors expected to pay royalties to their literary translators after paying a fair fee for their services?

However, before we discuss royalties, there is one rather complex fact to keep in mind. When it comes to literary translations, it is important for authors to understand: who owns the copyrights to the translated titles, who is entitled to exploit said rights, and what international and national laws protect their rights as an author and their translator’s rights as the author of their translated title.

More often than not, authors are misled to believe that having a translator sign a contract quitting their rights to royalties or additional payments for derivative products from their translations (such as audiobooks, ebooks, etc.) is not only fair but also legal. The truth is that this is far from being an honest or legal practice. Rather than taking advice from these self-styled mentors or experts, authors would be wise to research international treaties, such as the Berne Convention, or dig into the national laws applying to the countries where they are considering selling their foreign editions.

It is also wise to understand that good, professional, trained and skilled literary translators (a.k.a., the professionals you want to be involved in the translation of your book) are often part of translator’s associations protecting their rights and fighting for better fees, more recognition, and visibility for literary translators. A sad fact of the profession is that few literary translators make a living solely from their craft. This is mainly due to the conditions the industry tries to impose on them. Another discouraging fact? At the end of the day, many talented literary translators who would love to make a living by translating books abandon this dream to pursue other types of translation or other professions altogether in order to make ends meet.

Therefore, literary translators receive royalties as a standard industry practice – a practice which has even become enacted in law in many countries. This is simply a form of fair compensation for their significant contribution to a book’s creation and success.

Having said that, we would like to dig deeper into some of the reasons why literary translators should receive royalties:

1. Creative contribution:

Literary translators do more than just convert text from one language to another; they interpret the author’s style, as well as the tone and nuances in a text, in order to create a faithful yet culturally appropriate version in the target language. A professional literary translator translates a culture, not just words or sentences on a page. This process requires a high degree of creativity and skill, making the translator’s work an original contribution, which is precisely why translations are protected by copyright laws. With extensive research, intuition, and collaboration, a skilled translator brings the essence of a story to life, allowing readers in a new market to experience its beauty, insight, and universal appeal.

2. Work and effort:

Translating a book is a labour-intensive process that involves deep comprehension of both the source and target languages, meticulous attention to detail, and, more often than not, extensive research. Thus, the effort and time invested by the translator deserve recognition and fair compensation. In addition to a fair fee, royalties recognise that translation work has long-term value, and it’s not just a one-time service. Translators’ contributions continue to generate revenue over time and can also result in a wide variety of derivative products (such as audiobooks, book bundles, movies, TV shows, etc), especially as books gain momentum in new markets, and translators should benefit from this sustained success.

3. Enhancing marketability:

A well-translated book significantly enhances its appeal and accessibility in a new market. This may lead to increased sales and greater success in the translated language, benefiting both the author and the publisher.

This is particularly true for self-published authors working with a single translator, who becomes their voice in the foreign market. You don’t believe me? Read all about this success story.

Additionally, when translators are financially connected to the book’s success, they will engage in its promotion and share it within their networks, leading to potentially higher sales and visibility. Translators who care about the book’s performance become valuable advocates, which is especially important in niche or language-specific markets.

4. Professional standard:

In the literary world, in addition to a fair fee, it is a common professional standard to compensate translators with royalties.

Paying royalties to literary translators has become a recognised professional standard because it reflects their significant contribution to a book’s success. A literary translator’s work goes beyond mere translation or direct conversion from one language to another; they interpret an author’s voice, narrative style, and cultural nuances, making the book accessible, relatable, and enjoyable to a new audience. This depth of creative involvement warrants recognition, especially since a successful translation can expand a book’s readership and revenue in global markets.

Moreover, royalties incentivise high-quality translations, as translators become invested in the book’s ongoing success. Paying royalties acknowledges that the translator’s contribution is an integral, lasting part of the book’s value, promoting fair compensation and fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between authors, publishers, and translators.

5. Ongoing income:

Like many authors, literary translators often work freelance and may not have a stable income. Royalties provide a form of ongoing income that can support translators in the long term, especially if the book becomes a bestseller or when their translation is used for derivative works (such as audiobooks), thus multiplying their source of income.

6. Legal and ethical considerations:

A literary translator’s work is intellectual property because the translation is not just a direct transfer of words but a creative re-expression of the original work. A skilled literary translator brings personal expertise, cultural insight, and stylistic choices to ensure that the tone, nuances, and voice of the original text resonate with readers in the new language. In many jurisdictions, this creative contribution is considered co-authorship, granting the translator intellectual property rights.

In many countries, copyright law and publishing contracts guarantee translators’ rights to royalties due to this co-authorship status. Ethically, acknowledging the translator’s role through royalties is a way of respecting their intellectual property and contribution.

7. Shared success:

When a book is successful, it is often a collaborative effort. Just as authors and publishers benefit from this success, so should translators, as their work is integral to reaching and resonating with a new audience.

When a book gains popularity or achieves bestseller status abroad, the translator’s role is key to that international success. This ongoing financial recognition through royalties highlights the shared achievement between the author and translator in expanding the book’s global reach.

Final Thoughts

Paying royalties to literary translators is both ethical and essential. Doing so shows recognition for the creative process of bringing a story (along with all its complexities, emotions, and nuances) to a new audience. This endeavour requires considerable skill, intuition, and dedication, effectively making the translator a co-creator of the book. Royalties honour this co-authorship by ensuring that translators are compensated fairly as the book continues to succeed, recognising their ongoing contribution to its appeal and readership.

In addition, royalties for translators incentivise high-quality work by valuing the skill and artistry they bring to the project, which ultimately enhances the book’s reach and success in new regions. Fair royalties help create a more inclusive, respectful industry that acknowledges every creative effort behind the scenes, fostering partnerships that contribute meaningfully to literary culture on a global scale.

Lastly, in order to avoid any legal issues that might result from following misleading advice or taking shortcuts, authors who want to protect their author brand and have found the right literary translator for their projects will strike a fair deal for the translator’s contribution.

At the end of the day, respecting translators’ education, experience, and knowledge, as well as acknowledging their profession, is not only ethical but also a solid investment for self-published authors aiming to conquer new markets.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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Pros and Cons of Working with Beta Readers for Translated Books

Leave a Comment / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 21/10/2024

Pros and Cons of Working with Beta Readers for Translated Books

Working with beta readers for translated books has the potential to help self-published authors assess the quality of a translation into a language they don’t speak. Previously, we have offered different solutions to ease authors’ minds, too, like these expert tips to find the right literary translator.

However, not all literary translators might have a huge portfolio or online presence. And this does not mean they are not a good fit for you or your projects. It is true, though, that when this happens, it becomes harder for indie authors to assess quality.

Luckily, though, this is where your beta readers come in! You can find them on the subreddit r/BetaReaders on Reddit or on Beta Reader Group on Goodreads, for example. If you are an established author with a good online presence and a good number of newsletter subscribers and are translating your title to a widely spoken language (which would make sense), chances are you already have a few native speakers among your audience.

This is great, right? Well, yes… but also, no. The truth of the matter is working with beta readers is actually not that straight-forward. Are beta readers really an author’s ace up the sleeve when it comes to reading and judging a translation, or are they a double-edged sword? Are they really to be blindly trusted, or should authors proceed with caution?

In this article, we set up to analyse all the pros and cons self-published authors have when it comes to working with native speakers and relying on their (un)biased opinion about a translated book. The truth of the matter is that working with beta readers to assess the quality of translated books offers both advantages and potential challenges for indie authors.

Pros

Cultural Feedback

Beta readers can provide valuable insights into whether the translation captures cultural nuances, idioms, and local expressions accurately, ensuring the story resonates with the target audience.

They can assess whether the way certain aspects of the setting, historical references, or local customs are presented makes sense in the context of the target culture. If any details are misunderstood or irrelevant in the new cultural context, beta readers will flag them for the translator to work further on.

Language Fluency Check

Beta readers who are native speakers can identify awkward phrases, unclear language, or grammatical mistakes that may have slipped through the translation process. Additionally, they can identify if certain idiomatic expressions, slang, or colloquialisms in the translation feel unnatural or out of place. For instance, they can point out if a phrase used in the translation might be inappropriate or confusing for native speakers of the target language, thus helping the translator make a more appropriate choice.

Beta readers also tend to examine if the characters’ behaviour, dialogue, and interactions feel culturally authentic to ensure the book and its plot remain consistent.

Reader Engagement

They help gauge how well the translated book connects with the intended audience. If something feels off or doesn’t engage, beta readers can point it out early on. By focusing on clarity, flow, emotional impact, character connection, engagement with the storyline, readability, and overall engagement, they provide vital feedback on the effect the translated book has on a foreign audience while helping authors understand how the translation resonates with the intended audience.

Cost-effective Feedback

Beta readers often provide feedback voluntarily or for a low fee, making it a budget-friendly way to test the quality of the translation before going to market.

Early Buzz

Having beta readers involved can generate early buzz for your translated book, as they typically share their excitement or insights on their social media (with other native speakers sharing their interests) and by spreading the word about your work. Additionally, they can review your work on release day, provide praise blurbs for authors to use on covers or for marketing purposes, and share teasers on social media.

Cons

Inconsistent Feedback

Beta readers don’t usually have a professional background in translation or editing, leading to subjective or inconsistent feedback that could be based on personal preference rather than technical accuracy. As translators and editors, we have often received feedback about some readers preferring a specific translation for certain words in a novel because “it was more natural”. Authors should always pay attention to the subjectivity of beta readers’ feedback and discuss that feedback with their translators.

Limited Expertise

Beta readers may miss deeper linguistic or cultural issues that a professional editor or translator would catch, especially in complex literary translations. Sometimes, they tend to expect word-by-word translators, believing this is as loyal as a translation can get to the source text, unaware of all the literary devices translators resort to both to keep the text fluent and to make its narration natural and engaging for the foreign audience.

Time-consuming

Coordinating with multiple beta readers and going through rounds of feedback can delay the publishing timeline, especially if feedback conflicts or requires extensive revisions. A good way to avoid delays in the project while assessing a translator’s quality is to assess only a few chapters or a novella/reader magnet, which tends to be a shorter project.

Potential Language Barriers

If the author doesn’t speak the language of the translated version, it may be difficult to fully understand and act upon beta reader feedback without further input from a translator or editor. It is always advised to discuss all feedback provided by beta readers with translators in order to assess their skills and knowledge.

Marketing Services

Though not always the case, some beta readers will take the opportunity to bring the translation down only to offer their own linguistic services. Funnily enough, this actually happened to Carolina once, with a beta reader providing feedback with tons of grammar mistakes in the source language and providing feedback lacking any grammatical or editorial grounds.

What Should You Do Then?

Even though working with foreign beta readers can prove tricky sometimes, it is our firm opinion it is an enriching experience for all parties involved; one as translators, we welcome it warmly!

What we suggest authors do when working with beta readers is to establish a series of guidelines or questions on what exactly they are looking for. The best to do would be to provide beta readers with a short survey to assess the quality of the translation based on:

Narration

Grammar

Typos

Engagement

Authors should ask beta readers the right questions in order to help beta readers help them. Some good question examples are:

Did the story captivate you?
Did you find any issues in the translation? Were there any specific parts that were difficult to understand or confusing?
Did the translator struggle with something?
Who was your favourite character, and why?
What was your favourite part and why?
Did anything pull you out of the story?
Did you find any typos?
Is there anything specific you’d recommend being improved?
What general rating would you give the translation?

It is also a good idea to let them express their general feelings and emotions about the translated material.

You should always forward all the feedback provided by beta readers to your translator. They will certainly find numerous insightful comments and provide proper explanations for the issues wrongly pointed out, or humbly accept and correct any mistakes or typos they might have missed.

Final Thoughts

Beta readers can be a useful resource not only in assessing the quality of a translated book and a translator’s skills, but also in fine-tuning the final edition and helping you spread the word about your work among their contacts. Offering fresh perspectives and audience-driven feedback, they can contribute greatly to an author’s success in a foreign market — after all, it all begins with the right linguistic team. However, it’s important to balance beta readers’ input and trust your professional team of translator and editor in order to ensure the highest quality for international readers.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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AI for Book Translations & What Nobody is Really Talking about

Leave a Comment / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 14/10/2024

AI for Book Translations & What Nobody is Really Talking about

Undoubtedly, 2024 has seen an unprecedented rise in the use of AI for multiple purposes: writing, designing, translation, video creation… you name it.

Like everything, when used correctly, AI can help improve our lives and save tons of time on tasks that used to take us longer, such as the automatization of repetitive tasks. It also has increased notoriety for its lack of creativity and understanding of complex human emotions and nuances of language – strawberries, anyone?

So, is AI the best choice for authors when it comes to book translations? Or does its use risk an author’s brand and reputation in multiple markets?

A few days ago, we came across a post in one of our favourite Facebook Group for Writers: a romance author asked how legitimate it was to use AI to translate her books into German and hire someone to “vet” the translation for accuracy. The post gained 85 comments from other writers and generated a heated debate, leading the author community to express their thoughts on the matter. Some were in favour, and some stood strongly against this practice:

Today we won’t address thoroughly the argument that translation is, in fact, an act of creation, and hence no creative should endorse this practice. However, we would like to focus on some misinformation that is out there about AI:

Perks of AI Book Translations:

No copyrights for the translator
It is a well-known fact that under international laws, especially in Europe, the rightful owners of a translated book are, in fact, the translators. For some reason, indie authors tend to be wary of this, missing the point that a translator wishes the translation to succeed as much as the author paying for their services.

Translating into multiple languages
Translation is just the first step into a market. However, in order to succeed, authors need to ensure reviews, ads, engagement with all foreign audiences, etc are appropriately set up for the market. This is a huge time investment that, if done incorrectly, will only result in your translations failing to achieve their full potential.

Fast release
Authors can release books as fast as they can produce the translation and the book cover, and maybe hire someone to make sure the AI translation “reads smoothly”. However, readers can become wary of books that are released too quickly, especially if they have poor quality writing or plot issues, and end up favouring authors who invest more time and money in creating quality titles.

No investment
There are no upfront costs, except, of course, for the poor linguist (sometimes called editor and sometimes called proofreader) whose job is to ensure the translation is relatively okay for the market. In many instances, authors simply resort to “a native speaker”, which further compounds the issues introduced by the AI, as these amateur linguists lack the skills and experience of a professional.

What Authors Fail to See:

♦ Professional linguists will not accept editing an AI translation for the simple fact that it would practically take as much time to edit as it would translate it. It is well-known that AI tends to translate text literally, focusing on individual words or phrases rather than the overall meaning or emotion behind a sentence, resulting in technically correct translations that are often awkward, clunky, or lacking in fluidity from a literary perspective.

♦ Heavily edited translations are subject to copyright claims by the editor/translator. If a professional linguist does, in fact, take the edition or proofreading project, they would then become creators of the translation, and therefore have a claim to its copyright. This claim is based on the degree of rewriting needed for the AI-generated translation for the sake of accuracy, fluidity and emotional impact (a.k.a., for the success of the book in the foreign market). Moreover, there are very real issues with transparency regarding the most popular large language models and the data they are trained on – the AI-generated material may actually infringe on another author’s copyright, due to the way in which the model generates responses.

♦ Foreign audiences might notice authors releasing poor-quality books and feel scammed or tricked into buying a lower-quality product. This could seriously backfire against authors’ brands and reputations – nobody likes to feel like an afterthought. Your new audience deserves the same respect you show to your existing fans.

♦ While Amazon allows AI-generated content, it’s recommended to disclose the use of AI, especially if it created the majority of the book or significant parts of it. Readers may want transparency about how the content was created, and this disclosure can help manage expectations. Bear in mind that some readers may take an ethical stance on the use of AI in the content they consume.

♦ The use of AI is brand new, and the rules and laws around it are still unclear. If some country rules in favour of copyrighted AI content, then authors might be seriously affected and end up facing multiple legal headaches that could have easily been avoided by teaming up with a professional literary translator and respecting their rights.

Understandably…

Self-published authors tend to be protective of their work and business (which they built on their own from scratch). It might shock some to learn that, under international laws, translators own the copyrights to the translations and grant exploitation rights to authors.

Consequently any literary translator wants the translation to sell and succeed as much as authors do. In this partnership, a translator’s success is an author’s success and vice versa!

The aim for both parties should be the author’s brand, the translator’s brand, and audience growth.

Consequently, any literary translator wants the translation to sell and succeed as much as authors do. In this partnership, a translator’s success is an author’s success and vice versa!

The aim for both parties should be the author’s brand, the translator’s brand, and audience growth.

Please remember that hiring the right professional literary translator can be a game changer!

Hiring a professional literary translator offers numerous benefits, especially for authors looking to expand their reach into foreign markets while maintaining the quality and integrity of their work (the kind of authors we love to work with!). Here are some key advantages:

Accuracy and Faithfulness to the Original Text

Professional literary translators are skilled in ensuring the translation is accurate and stays true to the source text. They preserve the author’s voice, tone, style, and nuances, crucial in literary works where subtle meaning and wordplay are often present.

Cultural Sensitivity and Localisation

A professional literary translator understands the target culture and adapts the text accordingly, ensuring that idioms, references, and expressions relate to the new audience. This cultural sensitivity helps the book resonate with readers from different linguistic backgrounds.

Literary Quality

Literary translators know how to preserve the literary style, rhythm, and flow of the original work. Whether it’s a poetic passage, dialogue, or descriptive scene, they ensure the translation reads smoothly and maintains the artistic qualities of the original text.

Consistency across Translations

For series or complex works, consistency is key. A professional translator ensures that terminology, character voices, and narrative style remain consistent across multiple books, editions, or chapters, creating a seamless reading experience for the audience.

Professional Editing and Quality Control

Professional translators often collaborate with editors and proofreaders to refine their work. This additional layer of review ensures that the final translation is polished and error-free, enhancing the overall quality of the published text.

Broadening Audience Reach

With a professionally translated book, authors can access international markets and reach a broader audience. A quality translation helps build credibility with foreign readers, increasing the chances of gaining new fans and expanding an author’s readership globally.

Boosting Credibility and Sales

Books with high-quality translations are more likely to receive positive reviews, word-of-mouth recommendations, and boost sales. Poor translations, on the other hand, can lead to negative feedback and harm an author’s reputation.

Knowledge of the Publishing Process

Professional literary translators are often familiar with the self-publishing or traditional publishing process, which can be beneficial for authors. They may offer advice on navigating international markets, provide marketing tips that work on the foreign market, suggest the right keywords that resonate with the audience, or help handle legal aspects like copyright and contracts.

Language Expertise

Literary translators are experts in both the source and target languages, with a deep understanding of grammar, syntax, and idiomatic expressions. This expertise allows them to craft translations that sound natural and engaging to readers in the target language.

Collaborative Creative Partner

Professional translators often work closely with authors to ensure the translation aligns with their vision. This collaboration ensures that the final product is as close as possible to the author’s intent, even when adapting the text to a different language.

Final Thoughts

AI is still under development and constantly changing. It might even sound like an attractive option for authors to resort to in order to enter new markets and diversify their sources of income — regardless of the quality AI can achieve when it comes to literary texts.

Authors should be aware that this might result in foreign markets getting crowded with translations that lack the emotional depth needed to connect with audiences. This influx of potentially unsaleable titles might spam vendors, who might choose to take extra measures to ensure the quality of the products sold on their platforms. At the end of the day, a platform like Amazon will not risk losing clients over an invasion of poor-quality books. And, while Amazon does currently allow the publication of AI-generated works, authors should be mindful of quality, originality, and potential legal concerns (including plagiarism, as AI technologies “feed on” existing texts and books).

Furthermore, if the rules should change, if, all of a sudden, AI-generated material were under copyright of the model owner, or if audiences reacted badly to the translated books created with the use of AI, an author’s brand could end up suffering serious consequences — including but not limited to online shaming by entire international communities.

Teaming up with a translator and an editor, on the other hand, still continues to be the safest course of action. At the end of the day, once the clauses are clear and all the parties involved agree on terms, fees, royalties, delivery dates, etc., all there is to do is work towards creating a professional product audiences will love and want to buy.

Hiring a professional literary translator ensures that books maintain their quality and emotional impact while reaching a broader audience. It also enhances marketability, builds credibility, and preserves the artistic integrity of the original work across different languages. And it is this, and not a low-quality, fast-release approach, that will, ultimately, help authors conquer foreign audiences in the long term.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

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Thoughts on Inspiration and 10 Famous Quotes to Inspire the Writer within You

Leave a Comment / Inspiration, Writer's Life / SBT / 30/09/2024

Thoughts on Inspiration and 10 Famous Quotes to Inspire the Writer within You

Inspiration comes and goes, and reading about writing can be inspiring and eye-opening. Every so often, it feels like you are all caught up in your thoughts and writing seems almost impossible; reading about other people’s experiences can be relatable and make you feel less alone — others before you also struggled and found solace in reading about writing.

It is easy to feel demotivated and overwhelmed with so many responsibilities and external influences, and you lose sight of your goals. But dedicating time to reconnect with writing is fundamental to regaining clarity and insight. Writing is indeed just that: a way to put into words what’s happening inside your mind. By writing, you give shape to your thoughts, and you set them free in the world. It’s a transformative process that can help you create entire worlds, empower you, and help you understand the world.

As a self-published author, the journey from writing to publishing can be exhilarating and overwhelming… and everything in between. From navigating the creative process to hiring the right editors, cover artists and book formatters, to stressing about reviews, and managing the logistics of book promotion, it’s easy to feel a little lost or demotivated at times.

That’s where the power of inspirational quotes comes in. Quotes can encourage and motivate you along the way. They condense the wisdom from famous storytellers that went through similar hardships before you, and can offer perspective and challenge any preconceived notions.

Whether you’re facing writer’s block, struggling with self-doubt, or just looking for a little boost of encouragement, the right words can reignite your passion and help you push forward. For that reason, in this post, we’ve curated a collection of powerful quotes from fellow writers that will inspire, uplift, and remind you of the strength and creativity you possess as a self-published author. Let these words fuel your journey to success!

Inspirational quotes:

“You only fail if you stop writing.”

Ray Bradbury

“Good writing is rewriting.”

Truman Capote

“The worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt.”

Sylvia Plath

“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.”

Margaret Atwood

“You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.”

Jodi Picoult

“The first draft is just telling yourself the story.”

Terry Pratchett

“Writing, like life itself, is a voyage of discovery.”

Henry Miller

“The most beautiful stories always start with wreckage.”

Jack London

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts.
You need to start somewhere.”

Anne Lamott

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.”

Richard Bach

Final Thoughts

Inspiration can be tricky, and it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you are alone and no one is struggling like you are. In the often challenging and rewarding journey of self-publishing, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. The wisdom and encouragement in inspirational quotes can be a beacon of light during moments of doubt or fatigue. Whether you’re facing creative blocks, marketing struggles, or the uncertainty of success, let these quotes remind you of your resilience and passion. Keep pushing forward, believe in your work, and remember that every great author once stood where you are now—on the brink of creating something truly remarkable. Your words matter, and your story deserves to be told.

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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7 Tips to Find the Right Literary Translator for Your Self-published Books

Leave a Comment / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 23/09/2024

7 Tips to Find the Right Literary Translator for Your Self-published Books

Now that we have shared what a literary translator is, what background, training, and skills they possess and why they charge seemingly high fees, if you are still with us, it is time to take the next step in your journey to a new market: finding the right literary translator.

No matter what language you are considering translating your titles into, there are some things you simply need to get right from the beginning. Whether or not you hire the right professionals (at least one translator and one editor) to develop your products for a foreign market will end up playing a major role in your success. Finding the right literary translator will not only save you tons of headaches, but it is crucial for ensuring that the essence and quality of your books are preserved in the target language.

Luckily, to help you avoid disaster, here are some tips that will set you on the right path and help you determine if you’ve found the right linguists.

Tip#1: Review Their Qualifications and Experience

There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to assessing a linguist’s qualifications and experience. Strange as it may sound, not all great literary translators have a translation degree and not all literary translators with a university degree make great professionals, and indie authors must dig deeper than simply examining the linguist’s credentials.

Fortunately, living in a globalised world where almost everyone has easy access to the Internet makes matters easier for authors. A good starting point is checking if the translator has formal education or training in translation, literature, or languages. Next comes the experience.

Yes, easier said than done. But don’t panic! We are here to walk you through the process and even provide examples.

Thanks to platforms like LinkedIn, Amazon Author Central, Goodreads, Translators Professional Associations, such as CEATL or The American Literary Translator’s Association (to name a few), and Translator’s Communities such as Proz.com or Translator’s café, translation experience can be easily verified. Try to check your translator’s profile on some of the most relevant platforms, paying especially close attention to reviews of their work from paying customers, volunteer projects they were involved in and readers.

On professional platforms like LinkedIn, customers can write recommendations for the freelancers they hire. To access these recommendations, click on the translator’s profile, scroll down and find out what other authors’ experience was working with this linguist. Here is an example of my profile (Psst! Feel free to connect with me):

Unfortunately, when it comes to literary translators and self-published authors, not many authors are on LinkedIn, so in reality these sorts of recommendations, though not impossible to find, are not that common either. Nevertheless, it is worth checking.

Other platforms such as Goodreads and Amazon allow authors to have their own profile, bio, website, blog, etc. Make sure to check your translator’s portfolio (if available on a website), their translated titles, and, above all, reader’s reviews (remember these are your potential customers, so you want to make sure they trust your translator).

As a translator, I rely a lot on Amazon.com for reviews of my own work. Like many authors out there, when a book I translated is launching, I anxiously keep track of reviews for the first couple of weeks (sometimes even months) to make sure readers are connecting with the story and are having the same feelings the readers got reading the original manuscript (or the source text), and that there are no big issues, such as typos or inconsistencies in the story. I do this even though I have an amazing translation editor who works alongside me on every project and has a keen eye for details (and you can connect with her, too).

Ultimately, my Amazon translator profile allows readers who love the books and genres I translate to follow me and get notifications whenever a new book launches. For example, as of September 13^th, 2024, I have 427 followers.

For an author, this is especially important if you have translated books for several markets; readers from one market may be put off by notifications about releases they cannot read. This may mean they are not following you, but if they follow your translator, they will be notified of the book launches they are most likely to buy.

While you check up on a translator’s experience, you should also consider their specialisation. Make sure to hire a linguist who specialises in your book’s genre, subgenre, and even your niche if possible. As a writer, you know that each genre comes with an audience of fans. Each audience has specific expectations of the books they love, and even in the same genre, books can be widely different, which is why niches are so important.

An experienced translator in your genre, subgenre and niche knows your target foreign audience as well as you know your home audience. As such, they know what words, expressions, tone, and literary devices to use in order to deliver the product your audience wants.

Tip#2: Examining Their Portfolio

Did you find someone promising? Do their credentials check out? It is time to look into their portfolio!

What previous works have they done? If you request a sample of their work and the translator cannot provide it, bear in mind that they might be complying with NDAs and other contracts they might have signed with other authors (which speaks well of their professionalism, but we will get there later on).

Most professional literary translators have a website or a professional platform (like LinkedIn) where they list some (if not all) of the projects they worked with and relevant links to online vendors or review platforms. You can check out our Portfolio page for an example.

Published translations can be a good indicator of a literary translator’s credibility and skill. Check their work with different vendors, research reviews in the target language and find out what the target audience thinks of the translated titles they have released so far.

Tip to assess translation quality: If readers are talking about the plot, the characters, the settings, the unexpected turns, the swoon-worthy hero, the tension-packed scenes, etc., chances are you found a great translator!

Readers will only mention translations if:

They are bad, poorly edited, full of typos, hard to follow, too literal or foreign-feeling to them.
They are translated to a language variant they don’t prefer (think American English vs British English; Latin-American Spanish vs Castilian Spanish). This doesn’t necessarily mean there is something wrong with the linguist or the translation, but rather that the reader prefers a different language variant. If reviews are generally good, I would keep this linguist in mind.

Tip#3: Asking for References

Some literary translators will have a Recommendation section on their LinkedIn profile or maybe a Testimonial on their website, such as this one in our Home page:

Ask your linguist for references and contact previous clients to get an idea of their working style and reliability, availability to meet deadlines, and professionalism.

Tip#4: Assessing Their Language Skills

Even though it sounds hard for an author to assess the source and target language proficiency of a translator without speaking a foreign language, you should at least make sure that:

Your translator is a native speaker of the target language.
Your translator has a high proficiency in the source language (this should be evident in the way you communicate with each other via email, chat or videocall). If your translator is not good at communicating in your mother tongue (source language), do not waste your time.
Your translator should have a deep cultural understanding of both cultures to translate idioms, humour and cultural references effectively. Additionally, your translator should understand what to translate and what not to translate.
A good example of this is my decision not to translate the word “Highlander” in the series by international best-seller author Mariah Stone “Al tiempo del highlander”. Several aspects led me to this decision (keywords and marketing reasons, for instance), but the biggest factor was my knowledge of the target audience and the fact that I didn’t want to underestimate the Spanish readers who pick up a historical romance book set in the Scottish Highlands and understand perfectly well the kind of romantic hero they are getting/craving.
After all, a Highlander is a native of the Scottish Highlands, though, in this particular context, they are a very special kind of hero or heroine—they are steadfast warriors devoted to their family. They are fair, loyal, and honourable, and they fight for a cause they believe in deeply, for their country, for independence, for love, and for their family. They are brave and stubborn.
Translating this instead as “montañés” or “montañesa” (“mountain man” or “mountain woman”) or “guerrero/a” (“warrior”), which are some typical translations for this word in Spanish, would have deprived the text, and the whole plot actually, of key meaning. It would have let down audiences – and worse, it would have talked down to them. On the other hand, translating it descriptively, “habitante de las Tierras Altas de Escocia” (inhabitant of the Scottish Highlands, or “Highlander”) would have sounded foreign, overly long and strange, and it would have kept interrupting readers’ engagement with the story, especially because of its length.

Tip#5: Testing Their Work

Let’s be honest. Starting any new relationship can be hard, and trusting a complete stranger can be difficult, too. And a professional relationship is no exception to this.

Luckily, if all the previous steps led you here, there is something else you can do before signing any contracts and spending any money on having your books translated into a foreign market.

Request a sample translation of a chapter (if short) or a few pages of your book. If you know someone bilingual, ask them to compare it to the original to see how well they capture the language nuances. If you know someone who is a native speaker of that foreign language, ask them to read the sample text and ask them relevant questions about the story so far and how they are responding to it.

Tip: A free sample translation should be 300–500 words at most. A blurb translation should suffice to assess a translator’s skill.

Tip: If you don’t consider the blurb a long enough sample, you can always consider paying for a sample translation of a longer portion of the text to assess your linguist’s skills. Do not expect a professional linguist to translate a few chapters for free (and be cautious if they agree to do it).

Tip#6: Communicating and Collaborating

Good literary translators communicate effectively and respond quickly to your questions and concerns. Additionally, experienced literary translators can provide authors with information, tips, or other services they might not have considered yet (defining SEO-keywords in the target market, assisting with marketing campaigns, or setting up a special Newsletter for the foreign audience, for instance).

Professional literary translators should be willing to collaborate and consult with you to understand your vision and expectations, and to clarify ambiguities related to the text. For instance, if you write in a series and there are some unresolved issues, cliffhangers, or plot twists that need further clarification in order for your translator to make the best translation decision for the next instalments in the series to make sense. After all, when it comes down to it, translating is a decision-making process.

Tip#7: Showing Professionalism

A literary translator’s professionalism can be measured in a variety of ways. Without any doubt, first impressions and the way they communicate with you as an author are the best way to assess their professional behaviour, but it doesn’t end there:

Deadlines: When you ask for references, you can ask other authors the linguist worked for how good they were at meeting deadlines
Contracts: As established by Article 2 of the Berne Convention, your literary translator is the copyright holder of your translation as they are the author behind the translation. As such, both parties have the responsibility to draw up a fair contract and provide clear terms regarding:

Payment.
Timelines.
Rights, exploitation rights, and any limitations on their use.
Royalty share: In addition to a flat fee, literary translators are entitled to a royalty share to be agreed upon between both parties.

Final Thoughts:

If you are still here, you might have learnt that finding a professional translator who possesses both the necessary qualifications and skills to translate your books for a foreign market is no easy task. In fact, the more research authors do when hiring a literary translator, the better chances they have to find the one they should be working with.

Literary translation is not only a matter of skill and experience, but similarly to the writing business, it is a matter of niche and specialisation. It is a matter of developing storytelling techniques to conquer foreign audiences, meet their genre-specific expectations and deliver the book your foreign readers want to read.

The process might be long and excruciating. It will definitely require a lot of patience and devotion from your side, but once you find the right literary translator for your catalogue, you will want to hold on to them: this can, in fact, be the start of a very fruitful professional relationship.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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7 Tips to Find the Right Literary Translator for Your Self-published Books Read More »

Help! My Translation is Not Performing. What Should I Do?

Leave a Comment / Marketing Tips for Translated Books / SBT / 18/09/2024

Help! My Translation is Not Performing. What Should I Do?

So far, we have discussed multiple topics related to the world of literary translations, focussing on self-published authors who hadn’t yet tested the waters in an international market.

But what about all the other authors out there? The ones that have already tried an international market and haven’t found the results they were initially expecting. Are they stuck with a bad translation? Is the book, perhaps, being marketed to the wrong audience? There’s a myriad of reasons this could be the case, and today, we will try to cover the most common ones. Moreover, we will examine different strategies that will help newbies avoid making mistakes from the get-go and potentially help a translation perform better for those who might be fearing it is too late for their released titles.

If a translated book is not performing well in a foreign market, there are several steps you can take to identify the issues and improve its reception among new readers.

Please note this article is for authors who hired a translator rather than using royalty-share platforms, such as Babelcube, —which draw authors in with the promise of a zero-cost translation along with a good dose of wishful thinking that a translated book with little to no marketing will sell itself.

If you actually use the paid services of a linguist and have a legal translation contract allowing you to take some actions, here are some points and strategies to consider.

Strategies to Improve the Performance of a Translated Book:

1. Analyse the Market and Feedback

Ideally, this should have been done before starting the translation project. Just because a book performs excellently in its home market, it doesn’t mean it will make a decent number of sales in a foreign one. Likewise, a book performing poorly in its home market could turn a huge profit for authors in a foreign market (please, don’t get it wrong, this is not an encouragement for authors barely making any sales to put all their hopes into a new market).

As previously stated, proper research must be carried out (either if you are considering translating a book or if you are stuck with a book that is not selling):

*Sales Data: Review sales data to understand current trends. Identify any patterns, such as specific regions or times of year when sales are particularly low.

*Readers Feedback: Gather feedback from readers through reviews, surveys, and direct comments. Look for common themes or issues that readers mention. Ideally, your foreign readers should mention the same things they loved about your book in its original language (by now, you probably know a translation should read as fluently and naturally as the original book). Readers should talk about the same emotions your “original” readers felt.

Big red flag: Finding too many mentions about the translation. Readers may mention they appreciate that an author translated their books, or they loved the translation or were a bit irritated by certain words or phrases related to the language variant (think Spanish from Latin America vs Spanish from Spain, or Canadian French vs French from Canada, or English from the US vs British English, you get the idea).

When several readers focus too much on the translation (especially negative comments), it is a good idea to double-check your book. Does it need a new round of proofreading due to too many typos? Is it impossible to read because the linguist who translated it lacked fundamental skills? Or are the readers’ complaints related to the type of language variant used?

Read 5 Common Mistakes All Untrained Literary Translators Make and How to Avoid Working with a Bad Linguist for a hint of things that could have gone wrong from the beginning.

*Comparative Analysis: Compare your book with similar successful titles in the same market. Identify differences in marketing strategies, cover design, pricing, and distribution channels.

Let us share Caro’s personal experience: A while ago, I read a Scottish Historical Romance book I absolutely loved, and after some research, I found the author had translated only three titles of her vast catalogue into Spanish. The author is widely popular in her home market and has successfully released many series (and continues to do so).

I couldn’t help myself and decided to reach out to her. In my email, I asked about her past experience working with translators (in case this was the reason she stopped releasing translated titles) and whether she would be interested in having more titles translated into Spanish, as I found great potential in her stories and her writing. I knew for sure there was an eager audience of Spanish readers willing to buy Highlander romances (If you’re curious, check out this series!).

However, her answer took me by surprise. In very few lines, she explained that her books simply don’t sell in the Spanish market, and she was not interested in trying again, much as the market might have changed since she last released a title in Spanish. Even though, from my personal experience, I completely disagreed with this, I did understand that not every self-published author has the time and the energy to dig into new markets while continuing to release titles for their already existing audiences.

2. Review and Revise the Translation

No one likes combing through work they’ve already done, but as tedious as this can be, it is vital to understand potential issues before you go to print. And, believe us, it is better to understand if the problem is the translation itself before investing tons of money in marketing a book that will only give you headaches and bad reviews (not to mention bad sales).

*Translation Quality: If feedback indicates issues with the translation, consider hiring a different translator for a revised edition. Ensure the translation captures the original’s essence and resonates with local readers in the same manner it did in your home market.

Common issue: If you didn’t have a skilled translator working on your book, there is a chance you are stuck with a “literal translation”, a text translated almost word-by-word with the same structures and punctuation rules as the source text that ends up sounding foreign to your target audience.

*Localisation: Make sure the book is properly localised, considering cultural references, idioms, and contexts that align with the local culture.

3. Gather Professional Help

*Marketing Experts: Hire local marketing experts who understand the market and can tailor your promotional strategies effectively. These can be influencers offering affordable author services on their social media. You could, for instance, create an Instagram account for your foreign titles if most of your readers hang out there.

*Consultation with Local Media and Authors: Consult with local authors or literary consultants who can provide insights and advice on improving the book’s performance. Follow local blogs or media and find out what works for local authors.

Tip: These days, you can translate pretty much anything with machine translation or AI in order to grasp the basic meaning, so the language barrier shouldn’t stop you from researching potential collaborators. (Having said that, please do not even consider using AI to translate a book you will sell to a foreign audience unless you want to alienate your potential readers from the get-go.)

4. Improve Marketing and Promotion

*Target Audience: Re-evaluate your target audience. Ensure that your marketing efforts are reaching the right demographic. Do some digging into the people who agreed to review your book (if you don’t have any reviews yet, find a title by a fellow author who is doing great on the reviews front). Find out who they are, which age group they belong to, how much free time they have to read, what they like, etc. Cultural differences can also translate into different markets, so you should always know who your readers are before investing a lot of money into promoting a book to potentially the wrong audience.

*Marketing Channels: Diversify your marketing channels. Use social media, email newsletters, book clubs, and literary events to promote your book. Furthermore, find out where your readers hang out the most. For instance, nowadays, most Spanish readers and reviewers can be found on Instagram and YouTube (TikTok and book blogs are not as popular in comparison).

Extra tip: Make it a point to find out where readers buy books in your foreign market. You might be surprised to discover it is not on Amazon.

*Collaborations: Collaborate with local influencers, bloggers, and BookTubers to create buzz around your book. Don’t let the language barrier stop you! You will be surprised to find out that a lot of these influencers actually speak English (either enough to communicate or fully fluently), but their reading habit is to read books in their mother language.

Extra tip: Collaborate with local authors via Newsletter cross-promotions (maybe you can promote their English translations in your home market while they promote your foreign book in theirs? It’s a win-win, right?)

*Advertising Campaigns (after doing solid research!!): Invest in targeted advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, and Amazon.

Extra tip: Think outside the box! Consider investing in promotions in popular online reader magazines.

5. Enhance the Book’s Presentation

Be honest now. Have you involved all relevant experts and professionals in the creation of the book for your foreign audience?

*Cover Design: A cover redesign can sometimes make a significant difference. Ensure the cover appeals to the local market’s aesthetics. Compare your cover with similar titles released in the foreign market that are being best-sellers and the foreign audience responds to. Do you need to redesign your cover?

*Title and Blurb: Rework the book’s title and blurb to make them more compelling and culturally relevant. There is more than word-by-word translation when it comes to titles. Are you sure your translator is a skilled, trained professional who did deep research before translating your title? Are there other books already published under the same title? Are you using the best keywords? If so, do they sound natural, and do they appeal to the foreign audience?

*Book Formatting: Ensure the book’s formatting is suitable for local readers, including font size, layout, and any illustrations.

6. Optimise Distribution Channels

*Availability: Ensure your book is available in both physical and online stores that are popular with local readers. Do your homework. Research. You might find that Mexican readers have different buying habits from Spanish readers or Chilean readers, for instance. Do they all shop in the same places? Not submitting your book to important international retailers might be costing you a good number of sales (a big portion of an audience that doesn’t hang out on Amazon and, hence, has zero chance of ever finding your books).

*Pricing Strategy: Review your pricing strategy. Consider competitive pricing or special discounts to attract more readers. Check out what other authors are pricing their books.

*E-book and Audiobook: Offer your book in multiple formats, such as e-book and audiobook, to reach a broader audience. Diversify your source of income!

7. Engage with the Community

*Reader Engagement: Engage with your readers through social media, forums, and book clubs. Respond to comments and participate in discussions.

*Reader Contests: Run contests and giveaways to create excitement and word-of-mouth promotion.

*Local Partnerships: Partner with local libraries, schools, and literary organisations to increase your book’s reach.

8. Monitor and Adapt

*Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor the performance of your book and the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. Focus on the things that are working and let go of the ones that are only time-consuming and not producing any results.

*Flexible Strategies: Be willing to adapt your strategies based on feedback and market trends.

Final Thoughts

Of course, each book has its own reasons for not performing as expected in a foreign market, and each case needs to be carefully assessed to find the root of the problem. By taking these steps, you can address the issues causing poor performance and create a more effective strategy for promoting your translated book in a foreign market. However, nothing you do can absolutely guarantee your book will turn into a huge success overnight (even if you commission a new translation and relaunch the title with a new cover, blurb, etc.)

At the end of the day, before doing anything, carrying out some good research on the market is the best place to start. If you find it has potential, but your translated titles still aren’t performing, you might want to translate a different series with a new translator (if the reviews pointed out any of the issues outlined here), and this time use some of the strategies we have listed above. And only when things start to pick up, you might want to assess relaunching your previous titles or translating them all over again.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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Help! My Translation is Not Performing. What Should I Do? Read More »

How to Promote a Translated Title and Conquer a Foreign Market

Leave a Comment / Marketing Tips for Translated Books, Translation World / SBT / 09/09/2024

How to Promote a Translated Title and Conquer a Foreign Market

A comprehensive guide covering everything —
from pre-launch to launch week and post-launch strategies to promote your translated title!

Promoting a translated title in a foreign market involves a multifaceted approach to reach the target audience effectively. As overwhelming as this might sound, you should not lose focus on one important detail: if you succeeded in your home market and are ready to move on to foreign ones, you have all the skills required to succeed again!

Today, we are going to analyse a lot of different ways to help you successfully promote your translated books. You don’t have to do them all at once. In fact, planning ahead is key. You want to get the word out about your translations as soon as you decide to take the first steps and build buzz all the way to launch week, where you will focus on other ways of promotion. And after that? There is always something you can do to keep promoting your books. So, let’s start, shall we?

NB: Even though this article is mainly focused on Spanish audiences, you will find most of the advice here relevant for other markets, so whereas you have translated titles to German, Italian, French or any other language, you’re going to find it useful!

Pre-Launch Phase:

This is the phase that starts right after you find the perfect translator that aligns with your genre and requirements. You have crossed the Ts and dotted the Is, the contract has been signed, and the manuscript has been sent for translation.

Now is the time to sit back and relax for a few weeks or months until your translation is ready to be released, right? Well, actually, no. This is the time to focus on one thing: generate buzz about your coming book among foreign readers and start building your audience.

“But how can I do this when I don’t even speak that language?” you might be wondering… Well, it is actually not that hard. In fact, all you need is a little help from an expert. And guess what? You just hired a translator! So, who better to do this for you? (Remember to stipulate marketing materials in your translation contract or to ask your translator to keep count of all additional material and add it to your invoice.)

Here is a list of things you can do in the following weeks to start building momentum:

Get your website translated from the get-go (this is where your foreign audience will find official information about you and your future releases). You do not have to spend a fortune here, and you definitely don’t need to translate every single blog article you might have posted for your home audience. Please, keep it simple, but let your new audience know who you are and what you are up to. Make sure to mention any other translations you may have on the works (are you planning an entire series? Let your readers know right away!)
Set up a Newsletter for your foreign audience. This will be key to gathering all those precious email addresses from potential buyers.
Announce your new venture into the foreign market. Send out a Newsletter to your current audience in search of those loyal fans who are also speakers of the language you are translating into. Get them on board ASAP; they will be your sidekicks! Ask them to join your foreign Newsletter so you only send your news to those who want to receive it, and don’t risk overwhelming your existing audience.
Remember the Newsletter announcing your exciting news? Ask all your readers to help you by leaving a comment on your best-performing social media platform to generate engagement and reach more people! (They are your fans and will be thrilled to contribute to your success, even if they won’t buy your foreign books.)
When you have your professionally designed book cover for the translated title… Share a cover reveal on social media and in the Newsletter! What’s more, ask your readers their opinions. Or get them to vote between two different cover options! Or even ask them to sign up as your first reviewers!
Now that your audience is visually hooked, it is time to captivate their hearts with your words (or, in this case, your translator’s). Share your blurb and let them know what to expect from your first release!
When the translation is well underway, ask your translator to send you a few chapters carefully edited (if possible, by the book editor as well) and share a first chapter in your Newsletter!
Share some catchy taglines and calls to action on social media. Work with your translator and designer. This is not the time to scare your readers away with poorly edited content.
Invite your fans to join your launch team.
Set up your translated novel on pre-sale(*) and make sure your fans add it to their “Want to Read” lists on Goodreads and StoryGraph. (Remember, these are readers who have friends who share reading interests and probably enjoy books in your genre, so this is as close to “word of mouth” as you can get before even releasing your title.)
(*) Make sure you choose a release date that far exceeds your translator’s deadline (especially if this is your first international release). Life happens, deadlines are missed, you are still getting to know one another professionally, and you do not want to put out readers and Amazon by not having your title available on the promised date.
Have a reader magnet ready. This can be a prequel, a novella, a few sample chapters of your next release or a lot of other creative ideas. Check out this website for more lead magnet ideas.
Get your ARCs ready for your launch team.
Start planning your promotions for launch week. Plan ahead. If using promo sites (**), book your dates. Choose where you will advertise and design your ad campaigns with plenty of time (again, ask your translator and designer to help you with this).
Contact bloggers regarding blog tours and review opportunities (you might need your translator’s assistance to get the message right).

(**)Some paid promotion sites for Spanish titles include:

Ebrolis: According to some, this website is “the Spanish Bookbub”, and their website is translated into English.

Qué libro leo: Even though they don’t offer much information upfront, this popular website among Spanish-speaking readers offers promotional opportunities for authors.

Lecturalia: On their website (only available in Spanish), they mention that you can email them regarding promotion opportunities (get your translator to help!)

Many Books: You’ve probably heard of this one, or maybe even used it to promote titles in your home market. But did you know they also promote Spanish titles?

Launch Week:

This is probably the most anxious time you’ll have when it comes to this venture of entering a whole new market. Hard as it might be, try to avoid just refreshing your sales board and focus on other more important and productive endeavours:

Now that your book is live, reach out to your ARC readers and ask them to post their reviews on online retailers, social media and Goodreads or StoryGraph.
Participate in interviews and features with bloggers, vloggers and influencers.
Take the time to thank bloggers, vloggers and influencers in a comment on their posts or social media related to your launch. Share their stories and their content!
Set up a giveaway! Who doesn’t love a giveaway? Extra Tip: If you are translating into Spanish and wish to reach a broader audience, make sure to contact lecturalia.com/contacto regarding giveaways and promotional opportunities!
Create targeted social media campaigns on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.
Create Amazon ads/ads for your foreign title.
Send out a Newsletter to your foreign audience announcing your new release!
Consider Promotions and Discounts: Run promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers to attract new readers.

Post-Launch Marketing Strategies:

Now that your book is out there, we can focus on other strategies that will help you get the word out and get new subscribers into your mailing list:

Encourage readers to leave reviews on local review sites and platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and local equivalents.
Translate more books: If you have been at the writing game for a while now, you know that a writer’s long-term career is built on sell-through, or in other words, on readers loving your books and coming back for more (either your backlist or your next series). Releasing constant new books on a foreign market will keep your audiences hooked and help you develop your author brand overseas.
Promote in your books: Once your audience has finished reading your book, there are some key pages you don’t want to leave out:

Call to action: Direct your new readers to your NL or website.
Call to review: Ask them to leave an honest review of your book.
Reader magnet page: Collect other materials you've written and share them, or maybe add some teasers for your upcoming releases!
Thank you: Let them know how much you appreciate them for choosing your book
Teaser: Do you have more translations in the process? Make sure to let your new audience know! Include the cover and blurb of your next release, as well as a link to a pre-order. If available, add a few sample chapters of your next book.

Research local success stories: Look at local authors and how they have successfully marketed their books, and learn from their approaches.
Promote on Goodreads and on StoryGraph. Read this interesting article on all the resources Goodreads offers in the most subtle ways.
Promote on Babelio.

Final Thoughts:

By now, we have covered quite a lot of marketing ideas to get you started on the right foot in a foreign market. By employing these strategies, you can effectively promote your translated book in a foreign market, ensuring it reaches and resonates with your target audience.

However, you should always remember no venture is without risk, and there is no amount of marketing or the right formula that can 100% guarantee the success or failure of a book.

What is for sure, though? Without marketing, your translated book is set up to get lost in the sea of releases that hit the shelves every day, every hour, every minute, and you have little to no chance of a successful launch.

Bonus: Where to Find Foreign Book Buyers?

Did you know that Spanish book readers do not always rely on the vendors that are popular in your home market, such as Amazon and Apple Books?

For Spanish readers looking to purchase books, several retailers offer extensive selections of books in Spanish, ranging from physical stores to online platforms. Here are some of the best book retailers catering to Spanish readers; make sure your books are available to purchase on:

Online Retailers

Amazon:
Amazon.com (for USA Hispanic readers), Amazon.mx (for Latin-American readers) and Amazon.es (for European Spanish readers)
- - Offers a vast selection of Spanish books, including bestsellers, classics, and new releases. Amazon’s Kindle store also has numerous Spanish e-books.
Casa del Libro:
- - One of the largest online bookshops in Spain, offering a wide range of books in Spanish across various genres. They ship internationally.
Librería Gandhi:
- - A popular bookshop in Mexico with an extensive online catalogue of books in Spanish. They provide shipping options to many countries.

Fnac:
- - A well-known European retailer with a strong presence in Spain and France. They offer a wide selection of books in Spanish, both online and in physical stores.
Barnes & Noble:
- - While primarily an English-language retailer, Barnes & Noble has a good selection of Spanish books, especially for learners and bilingual editions.
Librería Porrúa:
- - A historic Mexican bookshop chain that offers a wide selection of Spanish books online.
La Casa Azul Bookstore:
- An independent bookshop based in New York that specialises in books by and about Latinos, offering a good selection of Spanish books.

Digital Platforms

Google Play Books:
- - Offers a wide range of e-books in Spanish, including bestsellers and classics.
Kobo:
- - Another excellent source for Spanish e-books, with an extensive catalogue available for various e-readers.
Storytel:
- An audiobook and e-book subscription service with a significant collection of Spanish titles.

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Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

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How to Promote a Translated Title and Conquer a Foreign Market Read More »

Should I Hire Several Translators for My Book Series?

2 Comments / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 17/07/2023

Should I Hire Several Translators for My Book Series?

Up to now, we have deeply analysed what Literary Translation is. Then we have looked at some red flags that will help you stay away from bad linguists. So, it might be a good time to start thinking about effective ways to enter new markets through translations.

Most indie authors who have been in the authorship business for a while must have heard, at the very least, about the rapid release strategy other indies use when launching titles in the same series or universe.

The strategy basically consists of holding off the launch of the titles that make up a series until it is complete (or almost complete) and then proceeding to release the books in short intervals. This technique offers authors tempting benefits, such as getting readers hooked and reading the author’s series non-stop. This can easily result in increased sales and potentially reaching #1 New Release on their Amazon categories, for example.

Nonetheless, not everything that shines is gold. In fact, this strategy also has its cons, which is why some experts think it only works for established writers with a solid fan base and a good author platform.

Now, When it Comes to Translating Books: Is this the Right Approach?

Authors often feel tempted to hire several translators to work on different titles in the same series in order to release faster. After all, the book is already written. So, why should they wait for the three to four months it’d take one professional translator to do the job when they can have a whole series translated in the same amount of time?

All in all, it certainly sounds like irrefutable logic, right?

However, first as an avid reader (one of those binge-readers even) and second as a literary translator, I strongly recommend you not to do this. Even though the pros of this decision might seem to surpass the cons, more often than not the reality proves to be different.

On the one hand, each literary translator possesses unique knowledge, creativity, and skill which are, of course, reflected in their translations. On the other hand, as they perform their work, they must make decisions or resort to different techniques, resources and literary devices to solve translation problems and overcome obstacles. Multiple ways of solving these issues might be equally valid, and the truth is there might be as many ways of solving them as translators available.

Maybe Not...

Once readers get used to their voice, which is the translator’s take on the voice of the author, changing narrators might not be the best call. As a matter of fact, it could even backfire on you due to the potentially jarring change in tone.

One of the greatest advantages of sticking to your translator for a whole series is that this one professional knows the whole story. Thus, the translator is familiar with all its subtleties, characters, settings, and every detail that makes the narrative and the author’s voice. Your readers might get deeply upset when encountering inconsistencies in a series. And this is more likely to happen the more different translators work on the same series, even if your translators work together and share a glossary of terms.

No doubt, you have made a huge investment in finding the right professionals (not just your translator, but also the translations’ editor, the cover artist, the book formatter, etc.). And that is why you should be aiming to make sales, not lose readers who will get irritated by the change of narrative on the second or third book in your series.

It is okay to feel eager to enter a new market, to connect with a new audience, and to want to please your readers with quicker releases. But as a rule of thumb, remember what Bruce Lee once said:

“Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity.”

This does not mean you can’t aim for a quick release schedule and have to launch three or four translated titles a year (depending on your translator’s turnaround and availability).

What You Can Do Instead...

If you have decided to have your titles translated into Spanish (or any other language, for that matter) and are hell-bent on launching your books as quickly as possible, you could do what many writers do when choosing the rapid release strategy:

Choose your translator based not only on their experience and skill, but also on their availability and turnaround
Consider increasing your translators’ fees in exchange for exclusivity and faster turnaround. (But bear in mind, some professionals will decline these sorts of offers)
Hold off the release date until more books in the series are available (though if you do this and you haven’t worked with the translator before, it’d be a good idea to ask a few native speakers to beta read for you. This way, you can make sure the audience won’t find any issues with the translation when you release a couple of books in a row)
Start connecting with your Spanish speaking audience before launching your first book; generate momentum! (Psst! You probably have a lot more Spanish speaking readers on your social media or Newsletter list than you know!)
Start building book buzz for your upcoming translated titles (work with your translator and hire a professional graphic designer)
Do not delegate marketing translations to someone else to keep your translator focused on your books. Do not underestimate your audience. Remember readers will judge the quality of your work based on the translation of your marketing campaigns and if they find your social media content poor and unengaging in their language, they’ll certainly not be buying your books
Get your audience involved and have them become your first fans (ask them to review your ARCs of your Spanish translations and to join your Spanish Street Team)
If you absolutely must, hire a second translator to start working on a different series

Final Thoughts

As a literary translator, meeting authors who are successful in their markets and have done thorough research to effectively reach new audiences is always a thrill. Especially when they’re ready to dive in!

However, when it comes to the world of translations, there seems to be a lot of (un)reliable sources providing incomplete or incorrect information which might prove harmful both to authors and translators; for example, encouraging authors to make potentially bad decisions when it comes to exploiting their foreign rights.

As discussed in several instances in this blog and in our upcoming book, literary translation is a profession that requires much more than the ability to write a text in a foreign language.

I hope this article sheds some light on what literary translation really is and the importance of not taking your future new audience for granted. Instead, I strongly encourage you to respect it and have fun getting to know it.

Lastly, please don’t take literary translation advice from people who simply write advice on where to find the cheapest translators (a.k.a., not skilled or professionals), how to make “the most” of your investment the fastest way possible or how these professionals should be paid. After all, would you tell an accountant how much they should charge you for completing your yearly tax forms?

Understandably, this is a new subject for you, so you should be excited to explore it and find out all there is to know about this profession and how working with the right professionals will benefit you as an author.

And even though at SBT we might not always have availability to take on new customers, we’d be happy to answer any literary translation questions you might have in the comments or on a separate post, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and inquiries.

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

Should I Hire Several Translators for My Book Series? Read More »

5 Common Mistakes All Untrained Literary Translators Make and How to Avoid Working with a Bad Linguist

1 Comment / Translation Tips for Self-published Authors, Translation World / SBT / 09/07/2023

5 Common Mistakes All Untrained Literary Translators Make and How to Avoid Working with a Bad Linguist

Translating a book into any language requires much more than speaking a language. It’s a work of skill that calls for a proficient understanding of the source language, deep knowledge of the target language’s grammar, and experience.

In order to achieve this, most qualified literary translators usually get a bachelor’s degree in Translation Studies. During their academic years, not only do they study their language combination in depth as they develop their translation skills, but they also study Literature, Culture, and History, thus gaining a deep, comprehensive understanding of the culture of both languages that goes beyond the mere meaning of words.

When hiring a linguist lacking those carefully gained language skills, the result is a poor translation that will fail to engage readers and will cost authors lots of time and money in multiple good editors to fix.

That’s why hiring the right translator for your books is essential. And for this purpose, we wrote a full-length article with all the essential information you should have to get you started on the right track and avoid unnecessary headaches. You can read Literary Translation: An Overview here.

Today, however, we’ll focus on the most common mistakes most untrained translators make to help you stay away from unscrupulous bilingual speakers selling language services and save you lots of headaches.

Bear in mind, our knowledge is on the Spanish market and this article will therefore focus on Spanish grammar.

1. Poor Command of the Source Language - Big Red Flag!

When dealing with a potential translator, writers often notice the linguist struggles to communicate in English (either speaking or writing). However, some authors mistakenly believe a good translator has excellent skills in the target language (their mother tongue) and it’s okay not to be fluent in English because it’s not their mother tongue.

Psst! A trained, professional literary translator spent years at university studying English and Spanish (or any target language) grammar, so if you’re dealing with a linguist who lacks good command of the source language, don’t waste any time and just run away.

Plus, how could someone who struggles to communicate in English fully understand your book and rewrite it in Spanish?

2. Wrong Translation of Idioms

Each language has its own idioms. Some translate perfectly well, others have a more natural idiom in the target language, and others simply don’t translate and need a little skill from the translator to be reproduced.

Any unskilled translator typically struggles to spot literary devices in a text. Not being too familiar with the source language (English) means they’ll most likely translate these devices word by word (creating a literal translation). In turn, readers will have trouble understanding these ‘foreign’ idioms that make little to no sense to them and will also fail to engage with a story that lacks an engaging and fluid narrative.

3. Lack of Reasearch

Most untrained translators don’t know the importance of research, for they’re too focused on writing the English words (source text) in Spanish (target text). However, this is one of the first skills you learn to develop in Translation Studies—question everything, research all.

As a result, the translated text is full of mistakes and inconsistencies that confuse and upset readers.

Research is also key in your marketing campaigns. A literal translation of keywords might result in Spanish keywords no one ever uses, which will undoubtedly cause your books to sink in the ranks and make your ads and campaigns lose more money than the profit they might turn.

Lastly, research is vital when translating your book titles and series titles (a process in which both author and translator should be deeply involved). But this is a topic we will be discussing soon in another article.

Research is one of the first skills translators learn to develop.
It is key in your marketing campaigns and vital when it comes to translating book titles and series titles.

4. Literal Translation of Literary Devices, such as Personifications

As stated earlier, a trained literary translator spent years studying English and Spanish Literature and knows how to identify the literary devices each language uses and how to translate them so that the target text flows naturally.

Make no mistake—unfortunately, some things will get lost in translation. A good translator will go to great lengths to make sure the translation conveys all the meanings in your book.

Unable to detect these language subtleties, an untrained translator will closely focus on the words and end up creating a weird text in an attempt to reproduce every single word, metaphor, and idiom.

As a result, whereas English literature authors use a lot of personification, in Spanish, for instance, things don’t do things. Instead, people carry out actions. And when a personification is present in a text in Spanish, it’s to bring focus to a particular action or event. This means the translation process requires a trained linguist to restructure a sentence (or multiple sentences and paragraphs throughout the book) to create a text that flows naturally in the target language.

5. Simplification - or Stealing Meaning from your Text

The English language is rich in verbs we use to clearly describe ways of speaking, talking, looking, moving, behaving, etc.

Sometimes, translating these verbs into Spanish can prove challenging, as there might not always be one word to accurately convey the same meaning, and translators might need to adopt a more descriptive approach.

A widespread mistake unskilled translators tend to make is what can be described as “stealing meaning from your text”, for they struggle to find an exact term in the source language and they simplify it. So, regardless of whether your character is gazing, staring, peering, glancing or scrutinizing, in Spanish, they’ll simply be “looking” (or “mirando”).

If your translator does this with every word that poses a conflict, the result will be a plain, monotonous text that fails to communicate your characters’ feelings, emotions, and complexities and will succeed at making readers angry at the repetitive vocabulary used throughout the book.

Final thoughts

No doubt, finding the right translator when you don’t speak the target language is not easy, and hiring a linguist who charges lower fees might sound tempting.

However, these lower fees might come at a high cost—it might cost you tons of money in editors’ fees to fix the translation or even paying a new translation altogether to save you at least a dozen headaches.

Or, if it’s too late when you realise the kind of translator you’ve been working with, it might cost you an entire new audience that will never get anywhere near your books again.

Hopefully, this article will help you sharpen your criteria and easily spot red flags to avoid working with unqualified translators.

This post may contain affiliate links

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Contact me

5 Common Mistakes All Untrained Literary Translators Make and How to Avoid Working with a Bad Linguist Read More »

Writer’s Life

Choosing the Right Translator and How to Work with Them

Where to find professional literary translators?

Some things to be aware of:

How do I know if I found the right translator for my books?

But are they really the right translator?

Beta readers? Why not!

Conclusion

Disclosure:

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Interview with Historical Romance Best-selling Author Kate Bateman

Would you like to introduce yourself and briefly tell us a bit about your career, how you got started, and how your author brand developed over the years?

Were your first translated titles handled by your traditional publishers? How much say did you have in the decision-making process? How long did the process take, and how was the experience?

How did you decide to outsource the foreign editions of your indie titles and release them in other markets, such as Germany and Brazil? What was the experience like? How long did this process take?

How many indie books did you release in each foreign language? How do the sales of those books compare to the titles published traditionally?

How did you find the right professionals to handle your foreign editions? How did you prove their skill set and experience? Did you always work with the same linguist team in each language? Would you do things differently if given the chance?

What were your main concerns when hiring a translator and an editor, and how did you handle them? What advice would you have for indies dealing with the same fears?

How do you deal with the marketing of foreign titles? Do you have a special Newsletter to connect with foreign readers and let them know about your releases in their language?

Have you received any feedback on the quality of the translations? Are there any recurrent comments that keep showing up?

What are your best-performing foreign titles, and why do you think that is?

Would you recommend fellow authors to explore the exploitation of foreign rights? Is it worth the time and investment? If so, what markets would you recommend to other writers in your genre, and why?

In recent times, there has been an increasing trend for AI translation. As an author who has worked with human translators and editors, what are your thoughts on this?

What is next in your writing journey? Are you considering translating into new languages? If so, which ones have crossed your mind, and why?

Are there any final words you would like to share?

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Launching Our Free Ebook

Discover the Power of the Spanish-Speaking Market

Working with Translators and Editors: The Key to Success

Copyrights and Intellectual Property

Thriving in an Unsaturated Market

Would you like to read it?

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Ayelen Lapettina Benito

English > Spanish Literary Translator

7 Reasons Why Literary Translators Should Receive Royalties

Having said that, we would like to dig deeper into some of the reasons why literary translators should receive royalties:

1. Creative contribution:

2. Work and effort:

3. Enhancing marketability:

4. Professional standard:

5. Ongoing income:

6. Legal and ethical considerations:

7. Shared success:

Final Thoughts

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

Pros and Cons of Working with Beta Readers for Translated Books

Pros

Cultural Feedback

Language Fluency Check

Reader Engagement

Cost-effective Feedback

Early Buzz

Cons

Inconsistent Feedback

Limited Expertise

Time-consuming

Potential Language Barriers

Marketing Services

What Should You Do Then?

Final Thoughts

Carolina García Stroschein

English > Spanish Literary Translator

AI for Book Translations & What Nobody is Really Talking about

Perks of AI Book Translations:

What Authors Fail to See:

Please remember that hiring the right professional literary translator can be a game changer!

Accuracy and Faithfulness to the Original Text

Cultural Sensitivity and Localisation

Literary Quality

Consistency across Translations

Professional Editing and Quality Control

Broadening Audience Reach

A comprehensive guide covering everything —
from pre-launch to launch week and post-launch strategies to promote your translated title!